What are the most promising mechatronic systems for robotics and automation?

I have some experiences using vision system in production automatic line. For example, in robotic laser welding application, it tracks position accurately & feedback to robot system to follow. I also experienced vision system used for detecting adhesive / glue dimension such as position, length & width in robotic line. Meaning to say, it also can be used for online process quality inspection.

For most applications, "vision" would just mean a single point laser that is attached in some way to the tooling and can return a distance measured to the robot, which can be used to calculate the position of key geometry of a part, say for example you know that a part has a step 10mm away from an edge you can grab, just make the robot detect that step with the laser, trace the position of the part with this information and there you go. Lasers and linear algebra solve a lot of applications for cheap.

Roboticist's perspective! The concept of vision systems when applied to motion and positioning of a robotic systems gives rise to a beautiful concept called visual servo. Unlike traditional method that rely solely on proprioceptive sensors like encoders or joint angle, visual servo utilizes information from cameras to control the robot's movements. This approach is particularly valuable in application where visual feedback is essential, such as tasks requiring precise manipulation or interaction with the environment. Visual servo, with its reliance on real-time visual feedback, exemplifies the interdisciplinary nature of mechatronics, combining elements of robotics, computer vision and control engineering.

Os sistemas de vis?o representam uma revolu??o na interse??o entre tecnologia e automa??o. Com o uso de cameras, sensores e software, esses sistemas capacitam rob?s e máquinas a desempenhar tarefas complexas que desbloqueiam percep??o visual, precis?o e análise de dados. Sua observa??o em identificar objetos, evitar obstáculos e monitorar a qualidade é vital em setores t?o diversos como fabrica??o, agricultura, saúde e seguran?a. Essa tecnologia n?o apenas melhora a eficiência operacional, mas também abre portas para inova??es que est?o moldando o futuro da automa??o em diversos domínios, proporcionando solu??es ágeis e precisas para desafios do mundo real.

Automation plays a crucial role in various domains by effectively addressing risks and repetitive tasks. However, we should be mindful of the potential consequences such as unemployment and increased reliance on benefits, which could arise from overpopulation and limited job opportunities. It is disconcerting how the dystopian vision depicted in movies like Terminator appears to be transitioning from science fiction to a potential reality where machines and AI are the dominent decision makers."This is John Connor. If you’re listening to this, you are the Resistance."

In my experience as a mechatronics engineer at a robotics firm, I have spent quite a bit of time developing haptic systems for robot training and tele-operations. The significance of haptic systems contribute to an array of critical aspects in the tele-operation and training of robots. Haptic systems provide the operator with realistic tactile feedback, allowing them to feel the forces, textures, and sensations encountered by the robot. This immersive feedback enhances operator's ability not to only tele-operate but also to train robots with precision. Haptic systems play a vital role in creating an intuitive, immersive and efficient interface between the operator and the robot, improving control, training and overall system performance.

Os sistemas hápticos representam uma inova??o crucial na intera??o entre humanos e máquinas, oferecendo um canal tátil que amplia significativamente as capacidades dos rob?s e das máquinas automatizadas. Essa tecnologia n?o apenas aprimora a capacidade de manipula??o de objetos, mas também abre portas para experiências imersivas em diversas áreas, desde a medicina e a educa??o até o entretenimento e a arte. Sua capacidade de simula??o ou toque é fundamental para a evolu??o da robótica e da automa??o, proporcionando avan?os importantes em múltiplos domínios e impulsionando a inova??o tecnológica de forma ampla.

In automotive industry, adaptive system is widely used not limit to robots, but also in process control. In my experience for example, adaptive system is used in spot welding process, the process parameters like welding current & weld time are automatically adjusted based on feedback signal and compared to reference value..in this case dynamic resistance curve

Need to control one variable, having one actuator? PID. Need to control for some end of process property affected by several variables? Large Unknown Parameters Model Convex Optimization, or "Neural networks" as people like to call them now, can help. Or genetic algorithms. Or something more domain specific based on modeling and gathering real world process data. All hinges on whether "Adaptive" means ONLINE adaptive or end-of-process adaptive, and how aggressive your control strategy needs to be, how fast you system can deal with changes, and how the input variables affect the outcome. Truly not a question for 750 answer, more like 750 pages.

Os sistemas adaptativos representam uma revolu??o na capacidade das máquinas se ajustarem e evoluírem em tempo real, enfrentando ambientes em constante mudan?a. Ao permitir que rob?s e máquinas automaticamente aprendam e se adaptem, esses sistemas n?o apenas otimizam o desempenho, mas também tornam possível lidar com variabilidades e imprevistos. Seja na explora??o, no transporte, no resgate ou na energia, essa tecnologia tem o potencial de melhorar significativamente a eficiência e a capacidade de resposta das máquinas, permitindo uma coopera??o mais eficaz com outros rob?s e seres humanos em diferentes cenários e desafios.

Adaptive system refers to an approach or technology that has the ability to adjust and respond to changes in the environment or conditions in which it operates. This type of system is designed to be flexible and autonomous, capable of modifying its behavior or characteristics in response to external stimuli. Main characteristics and aspects of the adaptive system: Flexibility: Adaptive systems are designed to adapt to different scenarios and conditions, allowing a dynamic response to changes in the environment. Continuous Learning: Many adaptive systems incorporate learning capabilities, allowing them to improve their performance over time based on experience and interaction with the environment.

Modularity requires good communication between developers and standardization of the concepts of what a "Module" means on you context. When done right, you can offset your workload between people who can read a manual and start contributing. The very antithesis of modularity is spaghetti code, or spaghetti wiring in a machine. The modern way of thinking about automatic machine engineering is not "engineering the machine", you "engineer" the components for very specific purposes and to perfection, and then you INTEGRATE SOLUTIONS, meaning you research and buy the best suited parts for your application. If possible making the integrated solution a modular system that can be further integrated itself.

Modularity enhances flexibility in robot design and construction that helps engineers break down the robotic systems into manageable components, allowing for easy customization and adaption to different tasks and environments. This flexibility is crucial in dynamic applications. From the design perspective, modularity simplifies the development process. Engineers can focus on designing modules with well defined functionalities, streamlining overall design and reducing complexity enabling the system troubleshoot friendly. Interchangeability and scalability are two key aspect of modular systems. They not only promote interoperability among different components, but also allow for the gradual expansion or modification of components.

Os sistemas modulares representam uma revolu??o na flexibilidade e adaptabilidade das máquinas mecatr?nicas, oferecendo um potencial significativo para a inova??o em diversos campos, como constru??o, logística, espa?o e militar. Essa abordagem permite que rob?s e máquinas automatizadas se ajustem rapidamente a diferentes cenários, ampliando suas capacidades, eficiência e adaptabilidade. Com a capacidade de reconfigura??o e combina??o de unidades intercambiáveis, os sistemas modulares oferecem uma resposta dinamica às demandas em constante mudan?a, reduzindo custos e simplificando a complexidade operacional.

Sim ,os sistemas modulares podem se adaptar e expandir gerando assim um auto crescimento e evolu??o. Bem como reduzir custos e complexidade.

Na minha experiência com automa??o, posso dar o exemplo da fabrica??o de embalagem de vidro, com as Maquinas Is - Máquinas de secciones individuales, s?o maquinas que na grande maioria é usado o sistema de servo motor para a resposta mais rápidas dos equipamentos, integrado junto sistemas hidráulico e pneumáticos, usando comando temporal. Os sistemas mecatr?nicos s?o os alicerces da automa??o inteligente, permitindo a interconex?o de dispositivos, máquinas e sistemas através da Internet das Coisas (IoT), resultando em processos aut?nomos e eficientes

Os sistemas macios representam uma abordagem inovadora na engenharia mecatr?nica, utilizando materiais flexíveis e estruturas deformáveis para criar máquinas adaptáveis e compatíveis com ambientes complexos. Essa tecnologia oferece uma série de benefícios, permitindo que rob?s e máquinas automatizadas realizem tarefas de forma mais segura e versátil. Ao imitar características naturais e possuir características flexíveis, esses sistemas capacitam os rob?s para se movimentarem em espa?os apertados e interagirem suavemente com humanos e ambientes solicitados. Além disso, a capacidade de absorver impactos e reduzir ruídos torna-os ideais para aplica??es em biomedicina, dispositivos vestimentais e projetos bioinspirados.

Automated systems need updating, same as with software applications, optimization comes from experience, and it is sheer destructive hubris to think you can create a perfect, bugless machine, from scratch, while sitting in an A/C office. Be humble, and give your future self an easier time by making the machine retrofit enabled, with spare space on panels, spare assembly holes in mechanical parts, take your time to document your code. Help out the next guy, because he will probably be you. (Writing this as someone who has had past me both help and f$%# me over throughout the years >~< )